UK welfare fiasco: The 100,000 addicts and obese who get benefit bonanza

NEARLY 100,000 people are receiving benefits because they are too fat or drug or alcohol-dependent to work.

New figures show nearly 100,000 drug-dependent or obese people are receiving unemployment benefits

Figures released by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) under the Freedom of Information Act show that 92,000 people have been receiving disability benefits after being assessed as unable to work because of obesity, alcohol or drug misuse.

They are claiming Employment Support Allowance (ESA), which is awarded to those who have an illness or disability that affects their ability to work.

The benefit replaced incapacity benefit, income support and severe disablement allowance with an annual cost to the taxpayer of £700million a year.

According to the figures for May 2015, the most up to date available, 57,940 people with alcohol problems receive ESA, while 32,310 drug addicts are also claimants.

GETTY

David Cameron launched a review to work out the cost of preventable conditions to the welfare state

GETTY

57,940 people with alcohol problems receive ESA, while 32,310 drug addicts are also claimants

In addition 47,000 people with stress and 1,750 who are obese receive the handout, worth up to £103 a week.

The current system needs reform because it fails to provide incentives to work, and traps people on welfare

Department for Work and Pensions

Birmingham has the most claiming disability benefits due to obesity (60), while Edinburgh has the most drug addicts (1,040) and Glasgow the most alcoholics (2,390) receiving the handouts.

In July the Prime Minister launched a review to work out the cost to the taxpayer of preventable conditions such as obesity and drug and alcohol abuse.

At the time he suggested that those who refused treatment could be stripped of their benefits.

The DWP said: “Having a drug or alcohol addiction does not itself entitle someone to disability benefits, but rather it’s the associated longterm health effects.

“The current system needs reform because it fails to provide incentives to work, and traps people on welfare.

“Dame Carol Black is conducting an independent review for Government on ways to help claimants with addictions and other long-term conditions back into work.”

The review follows a manifesto pledge. Last week the House of Lords backed down in its battle with MPs over disability benefit cuts that will bring the amount that can be claimed on ESA in line with Job Seekers’ Allowance (JSA).

GETTY

The House of Lords backed down in its challenge to MPs bid to slash disability benefits

ESA claimants will have their benefits cut by £30, bringing the amount they can claim to £73 a week, which is the same as those claiming JSA.

The changes, being introduced under the Welfare Reform and Work Bill, will only affect new claimants and will not come into effect before April 2017.

They will also only affect those unable to work now but capable of making some effort to in the future.

Ministers say too few are moving into work and that while the lower rate would save £55million in the first year, £60million would support claimants towards finding work.